Dennis Robert Snyder

Dennis Robert Snyder of Fort Myers, FL passed away on November 4, 2021. Dennis was born in South Haven, MI on August 26, 1946. He graduated from South Haven Highschool in 1965, where he enjoyed playing football and basketball. He attended Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, MI where he received a Bachelors Degree in Education and Masters in Physical Education. He taught for 2 years at Otsego Public Schools in Otsego, MI before moving to Fort Myers, FL where he taught physical education at Orange River Elementary School for 36 years. His love for teaching is evident in the generations of students who continued to be a part of his life, beyond their graduation. Dennis started learning photography during his years of teaching and took numerous pictures of his students. After retiring Dennis’s love of photography inspired him to become a freelance photographer. As a freelancer, he photographed Orange River Elementary, middle, and high school and Florida Gulf Coast University sporting events as well as Western Michigan University Football and Volleyball games. Dennis spent his summers in Kalamazoo, MI and with his camera in hand he loved photographing family events. Photography was his passion and favorite pastime along with playing golf with his closest friends. His other love was anything and everything related to the Olympics and he was a part of a National Committee to promote the Olympics in schools. He attended the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1988 and the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, US in 1996.
Dennis was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia (Snyder) Braschler and Joseph Snyder of South Haven, MI.
He is survived by his brother, David L. Snyder and wife Janet Snyder; niece, Jennifer Sankey (Anand Sankey), nephew, Joseph Snyder; grandniece, Anna Sankey and grandnephews, Joshua Snyder and Josef Snyder, and extended Drenth, Bartels, Rydecki, Braschler, Kennedy, Karen Connors and Farnsworth families.
The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Saturday, January 15, 2022 at the Orange River Elementary School Pavilion, 4501 Underwood Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33905.
Visitation for family and friends remembering Dennis’s life will be held in South Haven, MI at Filbrandt Funeral Home on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 2 PM – 4 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Western Michigan University Gary Fund, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008 or the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee Fund, Attn: USOPC Development, 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909.
Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fort Myers, is entrusted with final care. Filbrandt Chapel is assisting with the services for Dennis. To leave a condolence or share a memory please visit his webpage at www.starksfh.com